Chapter 48: The Twins from Kingston City
Raiden rested on a sofa, his eyes darting at the chandelier above, while Speed sat right beside him in silence. Outside, the others were training while Leo went through the bookshelves across the house. Neither would speak first—too arrogant, both of them.
Raiden had wondered why he didn’t receive any ability from Speed after their pact, but he’d already dismissed the concern. Probably because he was wrapped in Ash’s chains at the time, his crest barely recognizable. Not that he would have asked about it anyway—Speed himself wouldn’t have known.
However, after a brief moment, Speed set his pride aside and spoke up. "We are very grateful for your help, but I’m afraid we don’t serve anyone. We aren’t slaves."
Raiden tilted slightly toward him. They were already his servants, so he couldn’t understand what Speed was mumbling about. Beyond that, he didn’t want people working for him solely because of some contract they’d formed.
They had to have a personal reason, something to gain from serving him. So he said nothing; he simply tilted back to stare at the chandelier and began wondering how they were made.
"Soul and I have been through a lot, and I’m not going to let that happen anymore." His voice carried both rage and sadness.
Raiden immediately understood what was going on. Speed wanted to speak his heart out. Perhaps there was something he expected from Raiden but wasn’t receiving, leaving him confused and conflicted.
Soul tilted upward too, staring at the chandelier. He smiled. "When we were around eight, our parents suddenly vanished. Whether they’re dead or alive, no one knows."
He paused. "A few days later, the rent was overdue. Soul and I were kicked out."
Raiden’s expression darkened. Had Speed been taking care of his little sister since they were eight? It seemed both impressive and impossible, but he held back his questions. He didn’t want to disrupt Speed’s sharing.
"We both had our crests, so we decided to leave Kingston City. It’s right next to Coast City, on the west side." His eyes stayed locked on the chandelier above, ignoring even the breeze that drifted past.